Electric Vehicle Charging Guide

Would you like to know how to charge an electric car? Charging an EV is easy! You can charge your car at home, at a public charging station or at work. Here is what you need to know before driving to a public charging station:

The difference between the level 1, level 2 and level 3 charging station

The type of connectors compatible with your EV

The charging networks available in the United States and in Canada

With this electric car charging guide, you will learn everything you need to know about charging.

This guide discusses 3 key places where you can charge an electric vehicle:

Before we get into those concepts, it's good to know the various terms used for charging stations. They usually all refer to the same thing.

Charging station

Charging outlet

Charging plug

Charge port

Charger

EVSE (Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment)

Home charging

Charging levels

There are two types of charging at home: level 1 charging and level 2 charging.

Level 1 charging happens when one charges the electric vehicle (EV) using the charger included with the car. These charger can be plugged with one end into any standard 120V outlet, with the other end plugging directly into the car.

Level 2 chargers are sold separately from the car (although often purchased at the same time). Those chargers need a bit more of a setup, as they are plugged into a 240V outlet, which often requires the work of an electrician.

For any electric vehicle or plug-in hybrid, the use of a level 2 home charging station is recommended to benefit from all the pros of driving electric.

Connector types

The most common (and preferred) connector for a home charger is the SAE J1772. It looks like this :

It is the connector used to charge the most popular EVs, such as the Kia Soul EV, Nissan LEAF, Ford Focus EV, and many more. It is also the charger used by most Level 2 public charging stations.

The most common (and preferred) connector for a home charger is the SAE J1772. It looks like this :

It is the connector used to charge the most popular EVs, such as the Kia Soul EV, Nissan LEAF, Ford Focus EV, and many more. It is also the charger used by most Level 2 public charging stations.

The pros of home charging

A fully charged battery in a few hours

With a level 2 charger, it takes around four hours to fully charge a 30 kWh battery car (standard battery for full electric cars), which allows you to make the most out of driving your EV, especially when you have a limited time to charge.

Starting your day on a full charge

In most cases, fully charging your car at home will be enough to meet the needs of your daily commute, and then some.

Cheaper charging costs

Another advantage of home charging is the low cost of electricity compared to public charging.

Making the most of government programs

Some governments have incentives in place to make level 2 home charger purchase and installation more accessible.

In the USA, we recommend you to check your government’s website to discover the available subsidies.

In Canada, the following provinces have incentives:

Quebec: $350 off the retail price and $250 off the installation costs.

Where do I get a home charging station?

In order to get the most out of your vehicle, we recommend that you purchase a Level 2 home charging station that will recharge 2 to 6 times faster than with a Level 1 terminal.

The best time to get a Level 2 Is just before receiving his EV, so the terminal is ready and installed the moment you receive your EV.

Public charging

Charging Levels

There are 3 standard charging levels to charge your electric car. All electric cars can charge on Level 1 and Level 2 stations. However, some vehicles cannot charge at a Level 3 (also known as a DCFC or fast charger). Knowing your vehicle capabilities is therefore very important.

Before driving to a charging station, it is important to know if your vehicle is compatible with the connectors available. This is especially important for non-Tesla DCFC stations. Some may have just a CHAdeMO connector, others just an SAE Combo CCS connector, and others will have both. Also, some vehicles, like the Chevrolet Volt - a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, is not compatible for Level 3 stations. Make sure you know your vehicle compatibilities before planning a trip.

Charging Station Networks

There are many charging networks in the United States and Canada. Not all are present everywhere, but you can often have several in a region. They could be split in two categories:

Smart charging stations, also known as networked charging stations or connected stations

Non-networked charging stations. These do not require any membership to activate

Charging Networks Overview

Network/Operator

Membership Required?

Region

ChargePoint

Yes

USA + Canada

Blink (CarCharging)

Yes

USA + Canada

SemaConnect / SemaCharge

Yes

Activate and pay directly from the ChargeHub app

USA + Canada

NRG eVgo

Yes

USA

Aerovironment

Yes

USA

Greenlots

Yes

USA + Canada

FLO

Yes

Canada

OP Connect

Yes

USA

GE WattStation

Yes

USA + Canada

Circuit Électrique

Yes

Québec, Ontario

myEVroute

Yes

Ontario

Tesla (Superchargers et Destination)

No, but limited to Tesla vehicles

USA + Canada

Sun Country Highway

No

USA + Canada

Volta

No

USA

Doc Borné

No

USA + Canada

Astria

Yes

USA + Canada

Azra

Yes

Québec

Non-networked stations

No

USA + Canada

ChargePoint

Membership Required

USA + Canada

Blink (CarCharging)

Membership Required

USA + Canada

SemaConnect / SemaCharge

Membership Required

Activate and pay directly from the ChargeHub app

USA + Canada

NRG eVgo

Membership Required

USA

Aerovironment

Membership Required

USA

Greenlots

Membership Required

USA + Canada

FLO

Membership Required

Canada

OP Connect

Membership Required

USA

GE WattStation

Membership Required

USA + Canada

Circuit Électrique

Membership Required

Quebec, Ontario

myEVroute

Membership Required

Ontario

Tesla (Superchargers et Destination)

No, but limited to Tesla vehicles

USA + Canada

Sun Country Highway

No Membership Required

USA + Canada

Volta

No Membership Required

USA

Doc Borné

No Membership Required

USA + Canada

Astria

Membership Required

USA + Canada

Azra

Membership Required

Quebec

Non-networked stations

No Membership Required

USA + Canada

Workplace charging

How does workplace charging work?

Workplace charging works very similarly to home charging. It is offered by an employer to their employees. The employees therefore have access to parking spaces with charging stations during the day. These stations are usually level 2 stations, and many regions have incentives in place to encourage their implementation.

The pros of workplace charging

A longer electric range

When combined with home charging, workplace charging can double your daily electric range. This is particularly interesting for plug-in hybrids, as you can use the electric motor for longer distances and therefore save on fuel.

Level 2 charging allows you to charge faster, which is particularly interesting for part-time employees or for workplaces where employees are not in for the entire day.

Large fuel savings

The electricity costs of workplace charging are often taken on by the employer, which means employees can charge at work for free. In other cases, the employer charges fees to use the charger, but the cost is usually lower than that of a public charging station.

Government subsidies

In order to encourage employers to install charging stations for their employees, many governments have put in place programs that reduce purchasing and installation costs, as well as different advantages for the employer. However, many employers are unaware of the existence of these programs, and it falls on interested employees to talk to them about it.

Where to get a workplace charging station?

In many cases, the chargers used at work are the same models as the residential chargers. We recommend a level 2 charger, which will make recharging faster and is most often subsidized.